Central Oklahoma Pulls Away To Win Second Straight NCAA D2 Wrestling Title – FloWrestling

Central Oklahoma entered the season as the prohibitive favorite in the Division II title chase. 

The Bronchos finished the season as the clear front-runner, too. 

Central Oklahoma pulled away Saturday to secure its second straight national title and ninth in program history. 

With seven All-Americans, four finalists and two champions, the Bronchos piled up 110 points to finish 23.5 ahead of second-place Lander. Nebraska-Kearney finished third with 77.5 points, followed by McKendree (73) and St. Cloud State (64). 

Central Oklahoma entered Saturday with a five-point advantage over Lander, but the Bronchos stretched the lead when they went 4-2 in the semifinals. 

Gabe Johnson and Shawn Streck won titles for Central Oklahoma. Johnson knocked off returning champion Nick Novak of St. Cloud State 10-7 in the finals at 157, while Streck scored a 7-4 win in the finals against Lander’s Juan Edmond-Holmes. 

Streck was one of seven 2023 champions who reached the finals again Saturday, but only three repeated. 

Tiffin’s Zack Donathan won his second title by posting a 13-3 major decision at 141 against Nebraska-Kearney’s Nick James. 

West Liberty’s Ty McGeary completed a 33-0 junior season with a 9-1 major decision at 184 against Kutztown’s Matt Weinberg. 

But Glenville State’s Gavin Quiocho (133), Novak (157), Upper Iowa’s Chase Luensman (165) and Central Oklahoma’s Dalton Abney (197) had their repeat hopes stopped in the finals. 

Indianapolis’ Derek Blubaugh, who lost to Abney in the finals each of the past two seasons, scored a 5-1 victory in Saturday’s title rematch.